Laundry Options

One prospective buyer during the week asked...

How could a separate Laundry space be added?

In believe there are 3 inexpensive options.

1. A Built-in cupboard on the deck to the left of the sliding doors. (looking from the outside.)

2. Move the formal entrance to enter the living space directly. Build in the current entry hall as a Laundry.

3. A detached building. Last time I checked a non-habitable building up to 10sqm does not need council approval. Plumbing would now come under 'self-assessable' so a plumbing inspection would also not be required. I would have to check this however as these are brand new regulations.

Adding space and value.

Some people have asked me…

How could I add a 4th bedroom?
How could I add a second living space?
How could I add a lock up garage?

Below are three options for all of the above, with the third addressing all of the additions.
These are based on Number 25 but can also be applied to Number 27.

These are just the beginning of possibilities and don't even begin to explore the option of raising the house or extending into the back yard. There are many talented designers out there who might come up with other concepts to really add value to these houses, but I have sketched out a couple of possibilities below.

All these options would naturally be subject to council and engineering approval.

Possibility 1.

Blue shading indicates 'new' build.

This first option shows how to add a 4th bedroom in the most economical way.
It reduces the carport to a single car, however this could be offset by adding a second carport space to the front boundary, or adding another space in tandem behind the garage.

Possibility 2.

Blue shading indicates 'new' build.

This second option maintains the double carport and nearly doubles the living space and deck. It adds a study which with the use of internal louvres can open it up to the living area when in use,
and adds a separate laundry where the current entry is. It maintains all the living on one level.

Possibility 3.

Blue shading indicates 'new' build.

And this third option starts to explore the possibility of going 'up'. It adds a lockup garage underneath, and creates a large space on the upper level which could be used  as a living space, another two bedrooms, granny flat, or any combination of those.

Part of the initial design concept of these houses was to incorporate flexibility should the needs of the new owners change. I hope the above gives you the courage to explore your own ideas.

Powerline info.

Thanks to everyone who have viewed our houses so far - your positive comments are very encouraging, and we notice lots of you are checking out the blog. Naturally, visitors are raising concerns about the power lines, so may we refer you to this early blog post we did about our own research, prior to living in our own house at Number 29 Chapman Place.

Also if you need further information about electromagnetic fields you might like to visit the World Health Organisation website here. 

For sale!

The ad has just gone up on the internet, and may be viewed here.

There will be an open house this Saturday 31st May 2014, from 11.00am to 11.30am, when you can take a look around each house and talk to our Place agents Sarah and Chris if you wish.

Morning light.

Both 25 and 27 Chapman Place are complete and will be on the market shortly. Yesterday each home was 'dressed' prior to photography, and will be listed on various real estate websites later this week.

While they were empty though, we stopped for a moment to enjoy the morning light.

27 Chapman Place

25 Chapman Place

Exteriors are complete.

Last week I completed the exterior finishing work on both 25 and 27 Chapman Place, Oxley. For both houses this involved installation of stairs, deck handrails, privacy screening and battening underneath.

The back deck of 25 Chapman Place has a wide wooden handrail with stainless steel cable balustrading. A smoky grey Ampelite SolarSafe polycarbonate screen provides privacy between this and the neighbouring property and some protection from the westerly weather.

Number 25 has screwed hardwood battening all the way around the underside of the house, with a gate underneath the deck allowing this area to be used for storage.

Number 27 has stained recycled pine screwed battening all the way around the underside of the house, and has an access gate to the space beneath on the eastern side.

This home features a stainless steel handrail and cable balustrading, and an Solafrost Clear Ampelite SolarSafe screen that provides privacy between this home and next door. This screen allows light to pass through and, being installed out at the roofline, maintains the airy feeling of the back deck.

Cabinets: kitchen and bathroom fitout.

Custom made kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and benchtops have now been installed in both 25 and 27 Chapman Place, by Amano Kitchen Designs.

I only change my sub contractors when I have to. Amano Kitchen Designs is run by Nino, who was apprentice to my former cabinet maker Willy Felder of Skandinavian Designs. When Willy retired I followed Nino to his business. I'm sure Nino would have liked me sooner, however I hope he looks forward to my loyalty as Willy did before. Going back further, my father used Skandinavian Designs when it was owned and operated by Rudi Hahn. Willy was one of his employees before he took over the business after Rudi retired, so we're talking a working relationship starting back in the late 1960's. This is how I prefer to operate. I like to establish an understanding and rapport with my subcontractors to ensure high quality workmanship, materials, and maybe even enjoyment of what we do. Fancy that! It also means that if ever there was an issue due to design or failure of material or fittings, other than due to normal wear and tear, or accident, that it is dealt with promptly and without fuss.

Anyway, onto these current projects! Specifications are as follows:

Kitchen.
Cabinetry is Classic White Matt Melamine, with Brushed Aluminium Melamine as kickboards. Benchtops are genuine Ceasar Stone 'Ice Snow' with a waterfall edge, as is the splash back behind the cooktop (ensuring easy cleaning) Where practical, drawers instead of plain cabinets are installed. All drawers are soft close GRASS system units, a quality German made product. There is a pull-out bottle cabinet next to cooktop, and a divided bookshelf above fridge which can also be used for chopping boards and other trays. The kitchens are fitted with complete range of Smeg appliances, including a gas hob and dishwasher. These are not entry level appliances and should ensure many years of trouble free use. There is a twin sink with Grohe kitchen mixer tap. All these features almost doubled the cost of this kitchen above a standard kitchen and hopefully create a enjoyable place to work and live.

Cabinetry of kitchen of Number 25 Chapman Place.

Main bathroom.
Cabinety is Marni Lini Matt Melamine, benchtop is again genuine Ceasar Stone 'Ice Snow', there is a deep lab-style sink and Grohe mixer tap. The vanity is designed to incorporate an under-bench front loader washing machine. The cabinet under the sink is open to the tiled floor, so common moisture problems are avoided. How many laundries have you seen where under the sink is either a rusty steel cabinet, or a chipboard floor swollen with water damage?

If you were ever to extend these houses and include a dedicated laundry (which careful planning has ensured this is easily done at minimal cost) then where the washing machine is could be turned into another cabinet, or would be a great place to put a dirty clothes basket on wheels. Front loading washing machines have many benefits in energy usage and water saving, as well as making your clothes last longer. If you decide to buy one of these houses and don't have a front loader, talk to me. If you really want a top loader then a 'laundry in a cabinet' solution could easily be arranged on the deck. This is the beauty of platform constructed houses! It's easy to install additional plumbing and electrical anywhere beneath the house.

Ensuite bathroom.
Cabinetry is Marni Lini Matt Malamine, again with genuine Ceasar Stone 'Ice Snow' benchtop.
There is a benchtop sink with Grohe mixer tap. Mirrored over-sink cupboard features a LED light strip, and there is a power point inside for charging electric toothbrushes and the like.

Ensuite bathroom of Number 27 Chapman Place.

Detail showing Caesarstone 'Ice Snow' benchtop and 'Marni Lini' matt melamine.

About Grohe mixers.
I only use Grohe mixers, I've used them for many years and so they are installed throughout these houses. These are expensive German made taps, and feature two stage shut off to help reduce the possibility of water hammer. They are smooth and effortless to use, and the chrome finish is long lasting. The back up and warranty is second to none, and are, in my opinion, a joy to use. They ensure many, many years of trouble free use, and are part of my commitment to help ensure the total package of these houses has a low ongoing cost and maintenance in the future. This not only saves the home owner money, but is more environmentally friendly as things do not need to be replaced, and service trades do need to be dealt with.

I really hope the new owners enjoy the usage of these high end products and features that I've incorporated in these houses.

Copper pipe

One feature of the plumbing in both 27 and 29 Chapman Place is the use of copper water pipes throughout.

I like copper because it requires the workmanship of a skilled tradesperson using 'old school' techniques. The material is 100% recyclable, so ZERO waste is produced during installation. All offcuts are recycled, no matter how small. It is not subject to attack by vermin. Google 'copper versus plastic' and decide which you would prefer.

Why have plastic pipe systems become the standard in most homes these days? First and foremost, COST. A plastic system is far cheaper to install than copper. It's back to the old time = money equation.
As a builder I need to sleep soundly at night which is why I decided to stick with copper.

The only downfall with copper is that you can hear the water running through it, and it is more prone to water hammer.  On the upside you know if you've left a tap running outside.

I hope the future owner of these houses enjoys the look, workmanship, and proven longevity of copper.